KREO. Kinetic, Responsive Envelop by Origami

The research is focused on the study of adaptive kinetic building components, using tessellated geometries based on the origami principles. The aim is to investigate the possibility that building components change their morphology in response to environmental stimuli and that they tackle risk mitigating vulnerability thanks to this property. In the last century kinetic components topic received fluctuating attention, but last ten years innovations in buildings materials and technologies give a new impetus to the theme. These innovations free the components from the problem of the complexity of movements activation and the excessive maintenance cost. On this topic, the research tries to find the best solution to manage the kinematics of the components, choosing the foldable surfaces based on the origami for their expressive possibilities, their management of the kinematics and their resistance linked to the shape. The study involves two aspects: the conformation of an innovative material for the folding surfaces and the geometric configuration of the folding component. The production methods of this innovative composite material, made of a thermoplastic matrix and a reinforcement in natural or carbon fiber fabric, are tested. Their mechanical characterization and the identification of a secondary production process to generate the tessellation geometry were carried out. A junction system was developed and tested. The geometric configuration of the component is investigated through the creation of physical and virtual models. First ones are implemented to support the technological project, the management of the kinematics and the relation with other components. Virtual models have been used to identify a design workflow in a parametric environment that allows the implementation of strategies to optimize movement on thermal comfort.